it's not my fault. my country was at war for most of my life, but i'll take some of your tapes i have some, too. i'm learning about all kinds of music bands
( weird, she thinks, but leaves eddie with a short message before she returns to work. ten minutes before her shift is over, she messages him again, and they agree to meet in a parking lot close to where the store is. he wouldn't be the only one who is parked there, but it doesn't take wanda long to get there, umbrella in tow; it takes her even less to know which vehicle is his, for there's loud music coming from it.
[ If the music didnāt give him away, the enormous dragon mural painted on the side of his van might have. When Wanda knocks on the vanās door, a shout of yeah, yeah, just a minute comes from inside, followed by rustling until the music cuts and the door swings open.
It doesnāt take much to tell why he does everything out of his van. The back has been outfitted for mostly full-time living. A bed, cabinetry, a little desk a guitar and amp tucked into the corner. Itās kind of nice, and put together well.
Eddie, howeverā¦ ]
Hey.
[ He looked bad when he lost his kidney. He looks even worse now. Pale and tired with dark circles under his eyes, just the same as before, now with the addition of a large wound spread across his jaw and neck, in the process of healing. He moves gingerly, like a man whoās already popped his stitches multiple times, because thatās exactly what he is.
But despite everything, he tips his head and grins. ]
Step into my office. Or, you know, just outside of it. Not a lot of room.
( immediately, it's impossible to not notice that he looks like shitāmuch worse than what he was last time she had seen him in person. does eddy just not like looking after himself? is he on drugs, or does he drink a lot? while missing a kidney? she frowns, the pinch of her brows prominent as she closes her umbrella in the same breath as her stepping inside the van. when he closes the door behind her, she sets the umbrella close to it, as to not drip all over his things. )
You look awful.
( stop making her worry, you assholeā
but wanda can tell that he doesn't want a lecture, so she busies herself with looking around at the inside of his van. it really might have just about everything one might need, except for a toilet and kitchen. her eyes dart back to him; from inside her jacket's pocket, she pull out a pouch containing his promised guitar strings. )
[ Eddie does intend to return to his smoking and drinking habits eventually despite his singular kidney, but heās doing himself a favor and taking it easy for now. Itās not like he ever partook to the extreme before, and heās not so sure it matters anymore. This overall look of illnessāthatās something else entirely. ]
And here I thought I looked like complete shit, not just awful. You flatter me. Ohāthanks.
[ He accepts the strings with a grins and immediately turns to begin digging through the cabinets lining the back of the van, far less neat and organized than the rest of the tiny room would imply. Heās clearly shoved everything into them with no real organizational system. His voice continues, slightly muffled: ]
Yeah. I, uh, had a bit of a run-in with some mutant bats? So, not really sleeping as well as Iād like, butā¦
[ He trails off and shrugs, eventually emerging with an old cassette recorder in one hand and a blank cassette in the other. ]
Probably donāt have rabies, so thatās one bright side, at least.
( wanda is relieved to see, at least, that eddie seems to brighten up and react a lot more livelier than what she remembers from acreage at the sight of the strings. enthused, he goes through his cabinets, and wanda follows after him, delighted in seeing this energyādespite it all. )
You'd be petrified of all the rainwater if you did.
( she offers, helpfully, but can't help but turn his words in her head. mutant bats? here, in panorama? the fringes? elsewhereā? she looks down at the items he's pulled out, then back up at him. )
...do you think it would help if you had an actual bed once in a while to sleep in?
( she skirts over the subject because he's doing similarly. if he wants to talk about it, he can, but wanda doesn't know how comfortable he feels with her and doesn't want to force it. )
Well, Iām not. Not yet, anyway, so thatās probably a good sign.
[ He continues to skirt the subject, all but weaving his way right around it. He's obviously trying to avoid it as he grins and makes a sweeping gesture for her to sit if sheād like to. He doesnāt push it, but he does take a seat himself. He feels like an old man, having to sit every chance he gets, but itās sort of necessary. ]
Pretty sure this is an actual bed.
[ Technically, heās notā¦wrong. Itās an actual mattress barely off the floor and although itās a little lumpy, it usually serves him well. Heās quite proud of the tiny room heās managed to created with Arthurās help. But his body is in absolute shambles right now, and though heās loath to admit it, heād probably struggle less with a bed thatās easier to get in and out of, and running water within reach.
Heāll absolutely give in and stay with Steve or Mike eventually, just let him ride this out for a bit. ]
So, uhā¦you canāt make a mixtape from nothing, but lucky for usā
[ He reaches over the edge of the bed and using all his strength, hauls up a milk crate full of tapes. The crate is nearly overflowing and heās clearly been working on his collection since he arrived. ]
Iāve got a variety. Most of itās metal and rock, but thereās some other stuff mixed in. The radioās also an option, or anything you might have on you.
( it's not that she particularly wants to, but wanda takes a seat when prompted, beside him, and takes note of how his bed is like. it could... definitely be better. there's a spot of worry in her, in how his body moves and how he reacts to actions that should be no trouble at all for someone his age.
to be fair to eddie, it doesn't seem like something that he wants the conversation to focus on, so wanda keeps it cool and level, focusing instead on the mixtape situation before them.
there is wonder in her eyes as she looks over at the crate full of tapes, catching one as it nearly topples off to the side. she reads the name on the label, doesn't recognize it, and hands it back over. any worries about his state are forgotten. )
I don't mind what genre I'm listening to.
( music is music, and she enjoys it, especially now that she has a chance to find all sorts of tapes and bands singing in languages she's not familiar with. )
I'll take whatever you put together.
( there's something nice about that, after all, someone's own personal preference on tape. )
[ Eddie absolutely does not want to focus on the state of his physical health right now, which is why heās quick to move on. Heās grateful for the lack of pushing on the subject, grateful for the guitar strings, and grateful to be educating someone on the art of the mixtape. ]
Alright, well that makes you my favorite type of customer.
[ Eddie grins as he begins pulling tapes from the crate, peering at each one in turn, scrutinizing each one carefully. He returns some to the crate and puts others to the side until heās formed a little stack of about ten of them. Some tapes are older than others and some are clearly already mixtapes, labeled in Eddieās jagged handwriting. ]
Then weāll go in blind. Orāyou will, I guess, which is cool. Thatās kind of how a mixtape is supposed to be, if you ask me.
[ He pushes the stack towards Wanda. Heās purposefully picked out some more easily digestible albums, just because heās aware that his heavier tastes arenāt for everyone. Thereās a good variety, though. With some difficulty, he leans back to reach for a spiral notebook and a pen from his cabinets. ]
Iād normally say not to judge aa song by its title, but uhā¦weāre going for something here, so itās fine. Read the track list and write down what vibes with you. Donāt worry if you donāt know it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
satanicpanics) wrote2025-05-14 05:18 pm
no subject
the band??
kicked ozzy osbourne out for doing too many drugs so he started a killer solo career???
[ He can't help that he defaults to musicspeak and nerdspeak. ]
jesus
ok
well
i'll definitely take them
thanks
to both you and her
no subject
( sorry for the sacrilege )
you know, you're less intimidating once getting to know you.
no subject
of course not
if you ever wanna fix that problem i have plenty of tapes
[ HE'S SO SAD NOW, WANDA, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT. ]
you know
i get that a lot
no subject
my country was at war for most of my life, but i'll take some of your tapes
i have some, too. i'm learning about all kinds of music bands
that's also not a bad thing
no subject
your crimes are forgiven
in fact i'll do you one better
i'll make you a mixtape
[ So generous... ]
nah i didn't think so
thanks
no subject
you'll write the names of the songs and bands on the cassette case too?
can i see how you do the mixtape?
no subject
all part of the process
and sure
it's not some big secret
no subject
( much expensive... )
no subject
you're asking a lot here but
i think that's a price i'm more than willing to pay
no subject
or i could bring them to you, for mixtape learning purposes
no subject
i can drop by for the strings and give a mixtape lesson
if you're not opposed that is
i have a flexible schedule
no subject
is that alright with your flexible schedule?
no subject
[ He says as if he has anything planned. ]
do you mind action on this thread, or would you like a starter? both ok with me!
where will we go?
( she doesn't want to go into anyone's motel room or apartment )
action works for me!
i do it all out of my van
[ Where he lives, so if you really think about it, it's impossible to not go to his apartment. ]
no subject
she knocks on the van door, palm open. )
no subject
It doesnāt take much to tell why he does everything out of his van. The back has been outfitted for mostly full-time living. A bed, cabinetry, a little desk a guitar and amp tucked into the corner. Itās kind of nice, and put together well.
Eddie, howeverā¦ ]
Hey.
[ He looked bad when he lost his kidney. He looks even worse now. Pale and tired with dark circles under his eyes, just the same as before, now with the addition of a large wound spread across his jaw and neck, in the process of healing. He moves gingerly, like a man whoās already popped his stitches multiple times, because thatās exactly what he is.
But despite everything, he tips his head and grins. ]
Step into my office. Or, you know, just outside of it. Not a lot of room.
sorry a few days of conference kicked my ass
You look awful.
( stop making her worry, you assholeā
but wanda can tell that he doesn't want a lecture, so she busies herself with looking around at the inside of his van. it really might have just about everything one might need, except for a toilet and kitchen. her eyes dart back to him; from inside her jacket's pocket, she pull out a pouch containing his promised guitar strings. )
Have you been sleeping well?
( sorry, she really cannot help it. )
no worries!
And here I thought I looked like complete shit, not just awful. You flatter me. Ohāthanks.
[ He accepts the strings with a grins and immediately turns to begin digging through the cabinets lining the back of the van, far less neat and organized than the rest of the tiny room would imply. Heās clearly shoved everything into them with no real organizational system. His voice continues, slightly muffled: ]
Yeah. I, uh, had a bit of a run-in with some mutant bats? So, not really sleeping as well as Iād like, butā¦
[ He trails off and shrugs, eventually emerging with an old cassette recorder in one hand and a blank cassette in the other. ]
Probably donāt have rabies, so thatās one bright side, at least.
no subject
You'd be petrified of all the rainwater if you did.
( she offers, helpfully, but can't help but turn his words in her head. mutant bats? here, in panorama? the fringes? elsewhereā? she looks down at the items he's pulled out, then back up at him. )
...do you think it would help if you had an actual bed once in a while to sleep in?
( she skirts over the subject because he's doing similarly. if he wants to talk about it, he can, but wanda doesn't know how comfortable he feels with her and doesn't want to force it. )
no subject
[ He continues to skirt the subject, all but weaving his way right around it. He's obviously trying to avoid it as he grins and makes a sweeping gesture for her to sit if sheād like to. He doesnāt push it, but he does take a seat himself. He feels like an old man, having to sit every chance he gets, but itās sort of necessary. ]
Pretty sure this is an actual bed.
[ Technically, heās notā¦wrong. Itās an actual mattress barely off the floor and although itās a little lumpy, it usually serves him well. Heās quite proud of the tiny room heās managed to created with Arthurās help. But his body is in absolute shambles right now, and though heās loath to admit it, heād probably struggle less with a bed thatās easier to get in and out of, and running water within reach.
Heāll absolutely give in and stay with Steve or Mike eventually, just let him ride this out for a bit. ]
So, uhā¦you canāt make a mixtape from nothing, but lucky for usā
[ He reaches over the edge of the bed and using all his strength, hauls up a milk crate full of tapes. The crate is nearly overflowing and heās clearly been working on his collection since he arrived. ]
Iāve got a variety. Most of itās metal and rock, but thereās some other stuff mixed in. The radioās also an option, or anything you might have on you.
no subject
to be fair to eddie, it doesn't seem like something that he wants the conversation to focus on, so wanda keeps it cool and level, focusing instead on the mixtape situation before them.
there is wonder in her eyes as she looks over at the crate full of tapes, catching one as it nearly topples off to the side. she reads the name on the label, doesn't recognize it, and hands it back over. any worries about his state are forgotten. )
I don't mind what genre I'm listening to.
( music is music, and she enjoys it, especially now that she has a chance to find all sorts of tapes and bands singing in languages she's not familiar with. )
I'll take whatever you put together.
( there's something nice about that, after all, someone's own personal preference on tape. )
no subject
Alright, well that makes you my favorite type of customer.
[ Eddie grins as he begins pulling tapes from the crate, peering at each one in turn, scrutinizing each one carefully. He returns some to the crate and puts others to the side until heās formed a little stack of about ten of them. Some tapes are older than others and some are clearly already mixtapes, labeled in Eddieās jagged handwriting. ]
Then weāll go in blind. Orāyou will, I guess, which is cool. Thatās kind of how a mixtape is supposed to be, if you ask me.
[ He pushes the stack towards Wanda. Heās purposefully picked out some more easily digestible albums, just because heās aware that his heavier tastes arenāt for everyone. Thereās a good variety, though. With some difficulty, he leans back to reach for a spiral notebook and a pen from his cabinets. ]
Iād normally say not to judge aa song by its title, but uhā¦weāre going for something here, so itās fine. Read the track list and write down what vibes with you. Donāt worry if you donāt know it.